PGF{HD 2{301 {B -oxa phenylene compounds

ABSTRACT

This invention is a group of PGF2 -type oxaphenylene compounds, and processes for making them. These compounds are useful for a variety of pharmacological purposes, including inhibition of platelet aggregation, treatment of asthma, labor inducement at term, and cervical dilation.

260/268 R; 260/293.65; 260/326.2; 260/429.9; 260/439 R; 260/448 R; 260/468 D; 260/476; 260/50l.1; 260/50l.15; 260/50l.l7; 260/50l.2; 260/514 D; 260/570 Umted States Patent [1 1 [111 3,

Nelson Dec. 23, 1975 PGFg -0XA PHENYLENE COMPOUNDS [51] Int. Cl. C07C 65/22; C07C 69/76 [75] Inventor: Norman ANelsonGalesburg 58 Field of Search 260/473 A, 473 G, 520

Mich. [56] References Cited [73] Assgnee 32: 9 Cmpmy, Kalamazm FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIQNS 784,809 12/1972 Belgium 260/468 [22] Filed: July 18, 1974 2 Appl No: 489 848 Primary ExaminerRobert Gerstl Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Morris L. Nielsen Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 302,567, Oct. 30, [57] ABSTRACT 1972, abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of This invention is a group of PGF2 a type Oxapheny 121572 March 1971 abandoned lene compounds, and processes for making them. 52 US. Cl... 260/473 A; 260/211 R; 260/247.2 R; These cmpunds are useful a "army Pharma' cological purposes, including inhibition of platelet aggregation, treatment of asthma, labor inducement at term, and cervical dilation.

31 Claims, N0 Drawings PGF a -OXA PHENYLENE COMPOUNDS CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS copending application Ser. No. 121,572, filed Mar. 5,

1971, both now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to compositions of matter, and to methods and intermediates for producing them. In particular, the several aspects of this invention relate to novel oxa-phenylene analogs of some of the known prostaglandins, for example, prostaglandin E (PGE prostaglandin E (PGE prostaglandin F (PGF and PGF p prostaglandin F (PGF and PGF p prostaglandin A (PGA,), prostaglandin A (PGA prostaglandin B (PGB prostaglandin B (PGB the corresponding PG s, and the dihydro PG, derivatives, to novel methods for producing those novel prostaglandin analogs, and to novel chemical intermediates useful in those novel methods.

Each of the above-mentioned known prostaglandins is a derivative of prostanoic acid which has the following structure and atom numbering:

3 4 e 7 1s 19 o A systematic name for prostanoic acid is 7-[(2B-octyl)- cyclopent-la-yl]heptanoic acid.

PGE has the following structure:

PGA has the following structure:

4 /\/COOH V H bH PGB, has the following structure:

H OH Each of the known prostaglandins PGE PGF PGF p PGA and PGB has a structure the same as that shown for the corresponding PG compound except that in each, C-5 and G6 are linked with a cis carbon-carbon double bond. For example, PGE has the following structure:

Each of the known PG prostaglandins has a structure the same as that of the PG compounds except that in each, C-I7 and C-l8 are linked with a cis carboncarbon double bond. For example, PGE has the following structure:

Each dihydro derivative of PGE PGF PGF p PGA,, and PGB has a structure the same as that shown for the corresponding PG, compound except that in each, C-] 3 and C-l4 are linked with a carbon-carbon single bond. For example, dihydro-POE, has the following structure:

The prostaglandin formulas mentioned above each have several centers of asymmetry. As drawn, formulas II to IX each represents the particular optically active form of the prostaglandin obtained from certain mammalian tissues, for example, sheep vesicular glands, swine lung, and human seminal plasma, or by reduction or dehydration of a prostaglandin so obtained. See, for example, Bergstrom et al., Pharmacol. Rev. 20, l (1968), and references cited therein. The mirror image of each formula represents a molecule of the enantiomer of that prostaglandin. The racemic form of the prostaglandin consists of equal numbers of two types of molecules, one represented by one of the above formulas and the other represented by the mirror image of that formula. Thus, both formulas are needed to define a racemic prostaglandin. See Nature 212, 38 (1966) for discussion of the stereochemistry of the prostaglandins.

In formulas I-IX, as well as in the formulas given hereinafter, broken line attachments to the cyclopentane ring indicate substituents in alpha configuration, i.e., below the plane of the cyclopentane ring. Heavy solid line attachments to the cyclopentane ring indicate substituents in beta configuration, i.e., above the plane of the cyclopentane ring.

Prostaglandins with carboxyl-terminated side chains attached to the cyclopentane ring in beta configuration are also known. These are derivatives of 8-iso-prostanoic acid which has the following formula:

COOH

A systematic name for 8-iso-prostanoic acid is 7- [(2/3-octyl)-cyclopent-l B-yl]heptanoic acid.

The side-chain hydroxy at C- in formulas II to [X is in alpha (S) configuration. See Nature 212, 38 (1966) for discussion of the stereochemistry of the prostaglandins.

PGE PGE dihydro-PGE and the corresponding PGFa PGFp PGA, and PGB compounds, and their esters, acylates, and pharmacologically acceptable salts, are extremely potent in causing various biological responses. For that reason, these compounds are useful for pharmacological purposes. See, for example, Bergstrom et al., Pharmacol. Rev. 20, 1 (1968), and references cited therein. A few of those biological responses are stimulation of smooth muscle as shown, for example, by tests on strips of guinea pig ileum, rabbit duodenum, or gerbil colon; potentiation of other smooth muscle stimulants; antilipolytic activity as shown by antagonism of epinephrine-induced mobilization of free fatty acids or inhibition of the spontaneous release of glycerol from isolated rat fat pads; inhibition of gastric secretion in the case of the PGE and PGA compounds as shown in dogs with secretion stimulated by food or histamine infusion; activity on the central nervous system; controlling spasm and facilitating breathing in asthmatic conditions; decreasing blood platelet adhesiveness as shown by platelet-to-glass adhesiveness, and inhibition of blood platelet aggregation and thrombus formation induced by various physical stimuli, e.g., arterial injury, and various biochemical stimuli, e.g., ADP, ATP, serotonin, thrombin, and collagen; and in the case of the PGE and PGB compounds, stimulation of epidermal proliferation and keratinization as shown when applied in culture to embryonic chick and rat skin segments.

Because of these biological responses, these known prostaglandins are useful to study, prevent, control, or alleviate a wide variety of diseases and undesirable physiological conditions in birds and mammals, including humans, useful domestic animals, pets, and zoological specimens,.and in laboratory animals, for example, mice, rats, rabbits, and monkeys.

For example, these compounds, and especially the PGE compounds, are useful in mammals, including man, as nasal decongestants. For this purpose, the compounds are used in a dose range of about 10 ug. to about 10 mg. per ml. of a pharmacologically suitable liquid vehicle or as an aerosol spray, both for topical application.

The PGE, PGF ,PGFp and PGA compounds are useful in the treatment of asthma. For example, these compounds are useful as bronchodilators or as inhibitors of mediators, such as SRS-A, and histamine which are released from cells activated by an antigen-antibody complex. Thus, these compounds control spasm and facilitate breathing in conditions such as bronchial asthma, bronchitis, bronchiectasis, pneumonia and emphysema. For these purposes, these compounds are administered in a variety of dosage forms, e.g., orally in the form of tablets, capsules, or liquids; rectally in the form of suppositories; parenterally, subcutaneously, or intramuscularly, with intravenous administration being preferred in emergency situations; by inhalation in the form of aerosols or solutions for nebulizers; or by insufflation in the form of powder. Doses in the range of about 0.01 to 5 mg. per kg. of body weight are used 1 to 4 times a day, the exact dose depending on the age, weight, and condition of the patient and on the frequency and route of administration. For the above use these prostaglandins can be combined advantageously with other anti-asthmatic agents, such as sympathomimetics (isoproterenol, phenylephrine, ephedrine, etc); xanthine derivatives (theophylline and aminophylline); and corticosteroids (ACTH and predinisolone). Regarding use of these compounds see South African Pat. No. 681,055.

The PGE and PGA compounds are useful in mammals, including man and certain useful animals, e.g., dogs and pigs, to reduce and control excessive gastric secretion, thereby reducing or avoiding gastrointestinal ulcer formation, and accelerating the healing of such ulcers already present in the gastrointestinal tract. For this purpose, the compounds are injected or infused intravenously, subcutaneously, or intramuscularly in an infusion dose range about 0.1 pg. to about 500 pg. per kg. of body weight per minute, or in a total daily dose by injection or infusion in the range about 0.1 to about 20 mg. per kg. of body weight per day, the exact dose depending on the age, weight, and condition of the patient or animal, and on the frequency and route of administration.

The PGE, PGFa and PGFp compounds are useful whenever it is desired to inhibit platelet aggregation, to reduce the adhesive character of platelets, and to remove or prevent the formation of thrombi in mammals, including man, rabbits, and rats. For example, these compounds are useful in the treatment and prevention of myocardial infarcts, to treat and prevent post-operative thrombosis, to promote patency of vascular grafts following surgery, and to treat conditions such as atherosclerosis, arteriosclerosis, blood clotting defects due to lipemia, and other clinical conditions in which the underlying etiology is associated with lipid imbalance or hyperlipidemia. For these purposes, these compounds are administered systemically, e.g., intravenously, subcutaneously, intramuscularly, and in the form of sterile implants for prolonged action. For rapid response, especially in emergency situations, the intravenous route of administration is preferred. Doses in the range about 0.005 to about 20 mg. per kg. of body weight per day are used, the exact dose depending on the age, weight, and condition of the patient or animal, and on the frequency and route of administration.

The PGE, PGFa and PGFp compounds are especially useful as additives to blood, blood products, blood substitutes, and other fluids which are used in artifical extracorporeal circulation and perfusion of isolated body portions, e.g., limbs and organs, whether attached to the original body, detached and being pre served or prepared for transplant, or attached to a new body. During these circulations and perfusions, aggregated platelets tend to block the blood vessels and portions of the circulation apparatus. This blocking is avoided by the presence of these compounds. For this purpose, the compound is added gradually or in single or multiple portions to the circulating blood, to the blood of the donor animal, to the perfused body portion, attached or detached, to the recipient, or to two or all of those at a total steady state dose of about 0.001 to mg. per liter of circulating fluid. It is especially useful to use these compounds in laboratory animals, e.g., cats, dogs, rabbits, monkeys, and rats, for these purposes in order to develop new methods and techniques for organ and limb transplants.

PGE compounds are extremely potent in causing stimulation of smooth muscle, and are also highly active in potentiating other known smooth muscle stimulators, for example, oxytocic agents, e.g., oxytocin, and the various ergot alkaloids including derivatives and analogs thereof. Therefore, PGE for example, is useful in place of or in combination with less than usual amounts of these known smooth muscle stimulators, for example, to relieve the symptoms of paralytic ileus, or to control or prevent antonic uterine bleeding after abortion or delivery, to aid in expulsion of the placenta, and during the puerperium. For the latter purpose, the PGE compound is administered by intravenous infusion immediately after abortion or delivery at a dose in the range about 0.01 to about 50 .4g. per kg. of body weight per minute until the desired effect is obtained. Subsequent doses are given by intravenous, subcutaneous, or intramuscular injection or infusion during puerperium in the range 0.01 to 2 mg. per kg. of body weight per day, the exact dose depending on the age, weight, and condition of the patient or animal.

The PGE, PGFq and PGF Q compounds are useful in place of oxytocin to induce labor in pregnant female animals, including man, cows, sheep, and pigs, at or near term, or in pregnant animals with intrauterine death of the fetus from about weeks to term. For this purpose, the compound is infused intravenously at a dose of 0.01 to 50 pg. per kg. of body weight per minute until or near the termination of the second stage of labor, i.e., expulsion of the fetus. These compounds are especially useful when the female is one or more weeks post-mature and natural labor has not started, or 12 or 60 hours after the membranes have ruptured and natural labor has not yet started. An alternative route of administration is oral.

The PGE, P6P and PGFg compounds are useful for controlling the reproductive cycle in ovulating female mammals, including humans and animals such as monkeys, rats, rabbits, dogs, cattle, and the like. By the term ovulating female mammals is meant animals which are mature enough to ovulate but not so old that regular ovulation has ceased. For that purpose PGF a for example, is administered systemically at a dose level in the range 0.01 mg. to about 20 mg. per kg. of body weight of the female mammal, advantageously during a span of time starting approximately at the time of ovulation and ending approximately at the time of menses or just prior to menses. lntravaginal and intrauterine are alternative routes of administration. Additionally, expulsion of an embryo or a fetus is accomplished by similar administration of the compound during the first third of the normal mammalian gestation period.

As mentioned above, the PGE compounds are potent antagonists of epinephrine-induced mobilization of free fatty acids. For this reason, this compound is useful in experimental medicine for both in vitro and in vivo studies in mammals, including man, rabbits, and rats, intended to lead to the understanding, prevention, symptom alleviation, and cure of diseases involving abnormal lipid mobilization and high free fatty acid levels, e.g., diabetes mellitus, vascular diseases, and hyperthyroidism.

The PGA compounds and derivatives and salts thereof increase the flow of blood in the mammalian kidney, thereby increasing volume and electrolyte content of the urine. For that reason, PGA compounds are useful in managing cases of renal dysfunction, especially those involving blockage of the renal vascular bed. Illustratively, the PGA compounds are useful to alleviate and correct cases of edema resulting, for example, from massive surface burns, and in the management of shock. For these purposes, the PGA compounds are preferably first administered by intravenous injection at a dose in the range 10 to 1000 pg. per kg. of body weight or by intravenous infusion at a dose in the range 0.1 to 20 pg. per kg. of body weight per minute until the desired effect is obtained. Subsequent doses are given by intravenous, intramuscular, or subcutaneous injection or infusion in the range 0.05 to 2 mg. per kg. of body weight per day.

The PGE and PGB compounds promote and accelerate the growth of epidermal cells and keratin in animals, including humans, useful domestic animals, pets, zoological specimens, and laboratory animals. For that reason, these compounds are useful to promote and accelerate healing of skin which has been damaged, for example, by burns, wounds, and abrasions, and after surgery. These compounds are also useful to promote and accelerate adherence and growth of skin autografts, especially small, deep (Davis) grafts which are intended to cover skinless areas by subsequent outward growth rather than initially, and to retard rejection of homografts.

For these purposes, these compounds are preferably administered topically at or near the cite where cell growth and keratin formation is desired, advantageously as an aerosol liquid or micronized powder spray, as an isotonic aqueous solution in the case of wet dressings, or as a lotion, cream, or ointment in combination with the usual pharmaceutically acceptable diluents. In some instances, for example, when there is substantial fluid loss as in the case of extensive burns or skin loss due to other causes, systemic administration is advantageous, for example, by intravenous injection or infusion, separate or in combination with the usual infusions of blood, plasma, or substitutes thereof. Alternative routes of administration are subcutaneous or intramuscular near the site, oral, sublingual, buccal,

rectal, or vaginal. The exact dose depends on such factors as the route of administration, and the age, weight, and condition of the subject. To illustrate, a wet dressing for topical application to second and/or third degree burns of skin area to square centimeters would advantageously involve use of an isotonic aqueous solution containing 1 to 500 pg/ml. of the PGB compound or several times that concentration of the PCB compound. Especially for topical use, these prostaglandins are useful in combination with antibiotics, for example, gentamycin, neomycin, polymyxin B, bacitracin, spectinomycin, and oxytetracycline, with other antibacterials, for example, mafenide hydrochloride, sulfadiazine, furazolium chloride, and nitrofurazone, and with corticoid steroids, for example, hydrocortisone, prednisolone, methylprednisolone, and fluprednisolone, each of those being used in the combination at the usual concentration suitable for its use alone.

The PGE and PGF compounds are useful in causing cervical dilation in pregnant and nonpregnant female mammals for purposes of gynecology and obstetrics. In labor induction and in clinical abortion produced by these compounds, cervical dilation is also observed. In

cases of infertility, cervical dilation produced by PGE and PGF compounds is useful in assisting sperm movement to the uterus. Cervical dilation by prostaglandins is also useful in operative gynecology such as D and C (Cervical Dilation and Uterine Curettage) where mechanical dilation may cause performation of the uterus, cervical tears, or infections. It is also useful in diagnostic procedures where dilation is necessary for tissue examination. For these purposes, the PGE and PGF compounds are administered locally or systemically. PGE for example, is administered orally or vaginally at doses of about 50 to 50 mg. per treatment of an adult female human, with from one to five treatments per 24 hour period. PGE is also administered intramuscularly or subcutaneously at doses of about one to 25 mg. per treatment. The exact dosages for these purposes depend on the age, weight, and condition of the patient or animal.

The PGE, PGF PGFp PGA, and PGB compounds are useful in reducing the undesirable gastrointestinal effects resulting from systemic administration of anti-inflammatory prostaglandin synthetase inhibitors, and are used for that purpose by concomitant administration of the prostaglandin and the anti-inflammatory prostaglandin synthetase inhibitor. See Partridge et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,781,429, for a disclosure that the ulcerogenic effect induced by certain nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents in rats is inhibited by concomitant oral administration of certain prostaglandins of the E and A series, including PGE PGE PGE l3,14-dihydro-PGE and the corresponding ll-deoxy-PGE and PGA compounds.

The anti-inflammatory synthetase inhibitor, for example, indomethacin, aspirin, or phenylbutazone is administered in any of the ways known in the art to alleviate an inflammatory condition, for example, in any dosage regimen and by any of the known routes of systemic administration. The prostaglandin is administered along with the anti-inflammatory prostaglandin synthetase inhibitor either by the same route of administration or by a different route. For example, if the anti-inflammatory substance is being administered orally, the prostaglandin is also administered orally or, alternatively, is administered rectally in the form of a suppository or, in the case of women, vaginally in the form of a suppository or a vaginal device for slow release, for example as described in U.S. Pat. No.

3,545,439. Alternatively, if the anti-inflammatory substance is being administered rectally, the prostaglandin is also administered rectally or, alternatively, orally or, in the case of women vaginally. It is especially convenient when the administration route is to be the same for both anti-inflammatory substance and prostaglandin, to combine both into a single dosage form.

The dosage regimen for the prostaglandin in accord with this treatment will depend upon a variety of factors, including the type, age, weight, sex and medical condition of the mammal, the nature and dosage regimen of the anti-inflammatory synthetase inhibitor being administered to the mammal, the sensitivity of the particular individual mammal to the particular synthetase inhibitor with regard to gastrointestinal effects, and the particular prostaglandin to be administered.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a purpose of this invention to provide novel oxa-phenylene prostaglandin analogs, and processes for making them.

The novel prostaglandin analogs of this invention each have an oxa oxygen (O) and a divalent phenylene moiety in the carboxyl-terminated side chain of the prostanoic acid structure (I) or the 8-iso-prostanoic acid structure (X). These divalent groups are located between the carboxyl group and the cyclopentane ring, and are either in addition to the six methylene portions of said chain or in place of one to five of said methylene portions. Bonding to the phenylene ring is either ortho, meta, or para. The oxa group is between the phenylene moiety and the carboxyl group.

Some of the novel prostaglandin analogs of this invention also have, in addition, a benzene ring as part of the C-1 3 to C-20 chain of the prostanoic acid structure (I) or 8-iso-prostanoic acid structure (X). That benzene ring is present as a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl moiety attached as a substituent to one of the methylenes between G15 and the terminal methyl of the prostanoic acid or 8-isoprostanoic acid structure. Alternatively, the substituted or unsubstituted phenyl moiety is attached to the terminal or omega carbon of the C-16 to C-20 portion of the chain, replacing one of the hydrogens of the terminal methyl, the entire terminal methyl, or the terminal methyl plus one to four of the methylenes adjacent to that terminal methyl.

For example, five of the novel prostaglandin analogs of this invention are represented by the formulas:

xll

Xlll

XIV

Based on its relationship to PGE and prostanoic acid, the compound of formula XI is named 3-oxa-4,5-interp-phenyIene-PGE Similarly, the compound of formula X" is named l(R)-3-oxa-3,6-inter-m-pheny- Iene-4,5-dinor-l3,14-dihydro-PGF the compound of formula XIII is named 8-iso-3-oxa-l9-phenyl-4,7- inter-m-phenylene-S,6-dinor-PGA,, the compound of formula XIV is named 3-oxa-l6-(4-chloro-phenyl)-3,5- inter-o-phenylene-4,l7,18,l9,20-pentanor-l GF p and the compound of formula XV is named 5,6-dehydro-4-oxa-4,5-inter-m-phenylene-PGB These names for the compounds of formulas Xl to XV are typical of the names used hereinafter for the novel compounds of this invention. These names can better be understood by reference to the structure and numbering system of prostanoic acid (Formula I, above). That formula has seven carbon atoms in the carboxy-terminated chain and eight carbon atoms in the hydroxy-containing chain. In these names, 3-oxa and 4-oxa" indicate an oxa oxygen (-O--) in place of the 3-methylene and 4-methylene, respectively of the PG compound.

The use of nor, or dinor, trinor", tetranor, pentanor", hexanor, and the like in the. names for the novel compounds of this invention indicates the absence of one or more of the chain carbon atoms and EC XV 10 the attached hydrogen atoms. The number or numbers in front of nor, dinor, etc., indicate which of the original prostanoic acid carbon atoms are missing in the named compound.

Each of the names of the novel compounds of this invention contains (inter-p-phenylene), (inter-m-phenylene), or (inter-o-phenylene), preceded by two numbers. That indicates that p-phenylene, m-phenylene, or o-phenylene has been inserted between (inter) the two carbon atoms so numbered in the formula of prostanoic acid.

Thus, formula XIII differs from prostanoic acid in that an oxa oxygen replaces carbon 3, carbons 5 and 6 of prostanoic acid are missing, m-phenylene has been inserted between carbons 4 and 7 of prostanoic acid, and a phenyl has been attached to carbon 19 of prostanoic acid. Formula Xlll also, of course, is an A type prostaglandin, having a carbonyl oxygen and a 10:11 double bond.

Novel compounds of this invention with the carboxyl-terminated chain attached to the cyclopentane ring in beta configuration are 8-iso compounds (formula X), and are so designated by using S-iso in the name. An example is the name given above for the compound of formula XIII. If 8-iso does not appear in the name, attachment of the carboxy-terminated chain in alpha configuration is to be assumed.

Novel compounds of this invention with epi configuration for the hydroxy at C-15 are so designated by using 15(R) in the name. See, for example, the name given above for the formula-XII compound. Alternately, IS-beta is used. See R. S. Cahn, Journal of Chemical Education Vol. 41, page 116 (1964) for a discussion of S and R configurations. lf 15(R) or 15- beta does not appear in the name, the natural configuration for the C-l5 hydroxy, identified as the S configuration for PGE is to be assumed.

Some of the novel compounds of this invention differ structurally in other ways from the known prostanoic acid derivatives, having for example, more or fewer carbon atoms in either chain, and having one or more alkyl and/or fluoro substituents in the chains.

The following formulas represent the novel oxaphenylene compounds of this invention.

C H -O-CHZ'COORt XVI c Ha -a-ca -coom XVI l XXXl XXXl l XXXIII XXX l V Formulas XVI-XIX, and XXXII represent oxa-phenylene compounds of the PGE type. Formulas XX-XXIII, and XXXIII represent oxa-phenylene compounds of the PGF type. Formulas XXIV-XXVII, and XXXIV represent oxa-phenylene compounds of the PGA type. Formulas XXVlll-XXXI, and XXXV represent oxaphenylene compounds of the PGB type.

In formulas XVI to XXXV, the wavy line indicates attachment of the hydroxyl or the side chain to the cyclopentane ring in alpha or beta configuration; G is (1 alkyl of 2 to 10 carbon atoms, inclusive, substituted with zero, one, 2, or 3 fluoro or (2) a monovalent moiety of the formula (T) t t'g 5 wherein G l-l represents a valence bond or alkylene of one to 10 carbon atoms, inclusive, substituted with zero, one, or 2 fluoro, with one to 7 carbon atoms, inclusive, between and the ring, wherein T is alkyl of one to 4 carbon atoms, inclusive, fluoro, chloro, trifluoromethyl, or --OR wherein R is hydrogen or alkyl of one to 4 carbon atoms, inclusive, and wherein s is zero, one, 2, or 3, with the proviso that not more than two T's are other than alkyl; R is hydrogen, alkyl of one to 12 carbon atoms, inclusive, cycloalkyl of 3 to 10 carbon atoms, inclusive, aralkyl of 7 to 12 carbon atoms, inclusive, phenyl, phenyl substituted with one, 2, or 3 chloro or alkyl of one to 4 carbon atoms, inclusive, or ethyl substituted in the B-position with 3 chloro, 2 or 3 bromo, or 1, 2, or 3 iodo;

wherein R is hydrogen or alkyl of one to 4 carbon atoms, inclusive; R and R are hydrogen or methyl; and R is alkyl of one to 4 carbon atoms, inclusive, substituted with zero, one, 2, or 3 fluoro.

Likewise, in formulas XVI to XXXV, C H represents a valence bond or alkylene of one to 4 carbon atoms, inclusive, with one or 2 chain carbon atoms between CH and the ring; C H represents a valence bond or alkylene of one or 2 carbon atoms with one chain carbon atom between the chain unsaturation and the ring; C I-1 is alkylene of one to 4 carbon atoms, inclusive; C,,II represents a valence bond or alkylene of one to 4 carbon atoms, inclusive, with one or 2 chain carbon atoms between the ring and O, wherein C ,,H and C l-I together represent zero to 8 carbon atoms, inclusive, with total chain lengths zero to 3 carbon atoms, inclusive, and wherein C -H and C l-I together represent zero to 6 carbon atoms, inclusive, with total chain lengths zero to 3 carbon atoms, inclusive.

Regarding the meaning of C I-l C,-II and C H as defined above, the novel compounds of this invention include compounds wherein a carbon atom of the phenylene moiety is attached directly to the C-7 methylene or the C-5 =CR in ortho, meta, or para orientation relative to the oxa-containing portion of the carboxyl chain. When C H represents alkylene, the chain of carbon atoms which connects the C-7 methylene to a carbon atom of phenylene will be one or 2 carbon atoms long. When C I-I represents alkylene, the chain of carbon atoms which connects =CR to a carbon atom of phenylene will be one carbon atom long. C l-I represents a valence bond or alkylene of one to 6 carbon atoms, inclusive, with one or 2 carbon atoms between the ring and the O. Any or all of these alkylene chains are unsubstituted or substituted with alkyl carbons in the form of one or more alkyl groups within the total carbon content of each chain as specified above, i.e., a maximum of 4 carbons for C l-I 2 carbons for C H and 4 carbons for C H When C I-I or G l-I is alkylene, it is the same as or different than C l- 8 carbon atoms being the maximum total carbon content and 3 carbon atoms being the maximum total chain length for the combination of C l'i and C H and 6 carbon atoms being the maximum total carbon content and 3 carbon atoms being the maximum total chain length for the combination of C I-I and C l-I To illustrate these definitions, when C I-I is ethylene, C H is methylene, or one of them is a valence bond and the other is ethylene, but both are not ethylene. In this first illustration, where the total chain length of C I-I and C H is 3 carbon atoms, up to 5 carbon atoms are in the alkyl substituents.

Formulas XVI through XXXV include the separate isomers wherein II o is either R on or R on i.e. where the hydroxyl is in either alpha (natural) or beta configuration. Referring to the prostanoic acid atom numbering (formula I above), the point of attachment corresponds to C-l5, and, herein, regardless of the variation in the O1 to C-7 carboxy chain, these epimers are referred to as C-lS epimers".

Formulas XX-XXIII, and XXXIII wherein the O9 hydroxyl (following prostanoic acid atom numbering) is attached to the cyclopentane with a wavy line include both PGFq and PGFQ -type compounds.

Included in Formulas XVII, XXI, XXV, and XXIX, are both the cis and the trans compounds with respect to the O5 to C-6 double bond in the carboxyl-terminated side chain. In all of the compounds containing the C to C double bond, that double bond is in trans configuration, and the chain containing that moiety is attached to the cyclopentane ring in beta configuration in compounds encompassed by formulas XVI to XXXV.

The novel oxa-phenylene compounds of this invention include racemic compounds and both optically active enantiomeric forms thereof. As discussed hereinabove, two structural formulas are required to define accurately these racemic compounds. The formulas as drawn herein are intended to represent compounds with the same configuration as the naturally-occurring prostaglandins. However, for convenience in the charts herein only a single structural formula is used, for example in Chart D, to define not only the optically active form but also the racemic compounds which generally undergo the same reactions.

Formula XVI represents 3-oxa-4,5-inter-p-phenylene-PGE (formula XI hereinabove) when C H is ethylene, C l-I is methylene, G is n-pentyl,

R is hydrogen, C H and C H are attached to the phenylene in para orientation, and the carboxyl-terminated side chain is attached to the cyclopentane ring in alpha configuration.

With regard to formulas XVI to XXXV, examples of alkyl of one to 4 carbon atoms, inclusive, are methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, and isomeric forms thereof. Examples of alkyl of one to 8 carbon atoms, inclusive, are those given above, and pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, and isomeric forms thereof. Examples of alkyl of one to 12 carbon atoms, inclusive, are those given above, and nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, and isomeric forms thereof. Examples of cycloalkyl of 3 to 10 carbon atoms, inclusive, which includes alkyl-substituted cycloalkyl, are cyclopropyl, Z-methylcyclbpropyl, 2,2-

dimethylcyclopropyl, 2,3-diethylcyclopropyl, 2-butylcyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, Z-methylcyclobutyl, 3-propylcyclobutyl, 2,3,4-triethylcyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, 2,2- dimethylcyclopentyl, 3-pentylcyclopentyl, 3-tert-butylcyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, 4-tert-butylcyclohexyl, 3-isopropylcyclohexyl, 2,2-dimethylcyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, cyclooctyl, cyclononyl, and cyclodecyl. Examples of aralkyl of 7 to 12 carbon atoms, inclusive, are benzyl, phenethyl, l-phenylethyl, Z-phenylpropyl, 4- phenylbutyl, S-phenylbutyl, 2-(l-naphthylethyl), and I-(Z-naphthylmethyl), Examples of phenyl substituted by one to 3 chloro or alkyl of one to 4 carbon atoms, inclusive, are p-chlorophenyl, m-chlorophenyl, o chlorophenyl, 2,4-dichlorophenyl, 2,4,6-trichlorophenyl, p-tolyl, m-tolyl, o-tolyl, p-ethylphenyl, p-tert-butylphenyl, 2,5-dimethylphenyl, 4-chloro-2-methylphenyl, and 2,4,-dichloro-3-methylphenyl.

Examples of alkyl of two to I0 carbon atoms, inclusive, substituted with one to 3 fluoro, are 2-fluoroethyl, 2-fluorobutyl, 3-fluorobutyl, 4-fluorobutyl, 5-fluoropentyl, 4-fluoro-4-methylpentyl, 3-fluoroisoheptyl, 8- fluorooctyl, 3,4-difluorobutyl, 4,4-difluoropentyl, 5,5- difluoropentyl, 5,5,5-trifluoropentyl, and lO,l0,l0-trifluorodecyl.

Examples of alkylene within the various scopes of C I-I C l-l C l-I C,,H and C l-l as those are defined above, are methylene, ethylene, trimethylene, tetramethylene, pentarnethylene, hexamethylene, and heptamethylene, and those alkylene with one or more alkyl substituents on one or more carbon atoms,

Examples of methoxyphenyl, 3,5-dimethyl-4-fluorophenyl, 2,6- dimethyl-4-hydroxyphenyl, and 2,4-di(trifluoromethyl)phenyl.

The novel formula XVI-XIX, and XXXII PGE-type oxa-phenylene compounds, the novel formula XX- XXIII, and XXXIII PGFa -type and PGFp -type oxaphenylene compounds, the novel formula XXIV- XXVII, and XXXIV PGA-type oxa-phenylene compounds, and the novel formula XXVIII-XXXI, and XXXV PGB-type oxa-phenylene compounds each cause the biological responses described above for the PGE, PGF PGFp PGA, and PGE compounds, respectively, and each of these novel compounds is accordingly useful for the above-described corresponding purposes, and is used for those purposes in the same manner as described above.

The known PGE, PGF PGFB PGA, and PGE compounds uniformly cause multiple biological responses even at low doses. For example, PGE and PGE both cause vasodepression and smooth muscle stimulation at the same time they exert antilipolytic activity. Moreover, for many applications, these known prostaglandins have an inconveniently short duration .Of biological activity. In striking contrast, the novel prostaglandin analogs of formulas XVI to XXXV are substantially more specific with regard to potency in causing prostaglandin-like biological responses, and have a substantially longer duration of biological activity. Therefore, each of these novel prostaglandin analogs is useful in place of one of the corresponding above-mentioned known prostaglandins for at-least one of the pharmacological purposes indicated above forthe latter, and is surprisingly and unexpectedly more useful for that purpose because it has a different and narrower spectrum of biological activity than the known prostaglandin, and therefore is more specific in 18 its activity and causes smaller and fewer undesired side effects than the known prostaglandin. Moreover, because of its prolonged activity, fewer and smaller doses of the novel prostaglandin analog can frequently be used to attain the desired result.

To obtain the optimum combination of biological response specificity, potency, and duration of activity, certain compounds within the scope of formulas XVI to XXXV are preferred. For example, in compounds of formulas XVI, XIX, XX, XXIII, XXIV, XXVII, XXVIII, and XXXI, it is preferred that the carboxylterminated side chain contain a total of 2 to 4 chain carbon atoms, inclusive, excluding the phenylene and COOR and including the C-7 methylene. In other words, preferred compounds of these formulas are those wherein C H and C l-I together represent zero, one, or 2 chain carbon atoms. Especially preferred compounds of these formulas are those wherein C H and C H each represent a valence bond, and those wherein C l-I represents a valence bond and C l-I represents a single chain carbon atom, especially methylene.

In compounds of formulas XVII, XVIII, XXI, XXII, XXV, XXVI, XXIX, XXX, XXXII, XXXIII, XXXIV, and XXXV, it is preferred that the carboxyl-terminated side chain contain a total of 4 or 5 chain carbon atoms, excluding the phenylene and COOR and including CH --CR =CR and CI-I C I C-. In other words, preferred compounds of these formulas are those wherein C H and C H together represent zero or one chain carbon atoms. Included in these coumpounds are those wherein C l-l and C,,H each repre sent a valence bond, and those wherein C H represents a valence bond, and C H represents a single chain carbon atom, especially methylene.

As used herein, a chain carbon atom is part of the direct chain of carbon atoms linking the C-7 methylene or =CR to the phenylene, the phenylene to the oxa, and the oxa to COOR Thus, the chain CI-I(CH- )-C(Cl-l contains 5 carbon atoms but only 2 chain atoms.

Another preference for the carboxy-terminated side chain in compounds of formulas XVI to XXXV is that the phenylene be a meta-phenylene.

Another preference for the compounds of formulas XVI to XXXV is that R R and R are hydrogen or methyl. All of those R groups can be hydrogen, all can be methyl, or there can be any of the possible combinations of hydrogen and methyl.

Certain variations in the nature of G in the compounds of formulas XVI to XXXV are especially important. In the known PG and P0 prostaglandins, e.g., POE the portion of the molecule corresponding to G in formulas XVI to XXXI is n-pentyl. When G is unsubstituted alkyl or fluoro-substituted alkyl as defined above, there is a preference which results in compounds with optimum combinations of biological properties: namely that G is straight chain alkyl of 3 to 7 carbon atoms, inclusive, with or without a fluoro substituent at the 1-position, e.g., CI-IF(CH -Cl-I wherein a is one, 2,3, 4; m5. Especially preferred among these are n-pentyl and lfluoropentyl.

When G is substituted alkyl, it is preferred that the l-position be monoor di-substituted with one or two alkyl groups containingfrom one to 4 carbon atoms, inclusive. Especially preferred are formula XVI-to- XXXV compounds wherein G is substituted at the l-position with methyl and/or ethyl, e.g. -CI-I(CH- as defined above, it is preferred for compounds with optimum combination of biological properties that CH be a valence bond, i.e., t is zero, or alkylene of one to 4 carbon atoms, inclusive, i.e., -(CH wherein d is one, 2, 3, or 4, with or without a fluoro or alkyl substituent on the carbon adjacent to the hydroxy-substituted carbon (C in PGE e.g., CH- F(CH CH(Cl-l )(CH or C(CH (CH wherein e is zero, one, 2, or 3. Further, it is preferred that the phenyl ring when present and substituted, be substituted at least at the para position.

In compounds of formulas XXXII to XXXV, it is preferred that C l-l be methylene and that R be ethyl.

Another way of expressing the above preferences for G is that when G is alkyl or fluoro-substituted alkyl it be a group represented by wherein a is one, 2, 3, 4, or 5, and wherein R and R are hydrogen, alkyl of one to 4 carbon atoms, inclusive,

or fluoro, being the same or different, with the proviso that R is fluoro only when R is hydrogen or fluoro.

Furthermore, when G is it is preferred that when C l-l is alkylene or fluoro-substituted alkylene it be a group represented by wherein e is zero, one, 2, or 3, and wherein R and R are as defined above.

Still another preference is that Q be tate maintaining uniform levels of these compounds in the body with fewer, shorter, or smaller doses, and make possible self-administration by the patient.

The PGE, PGF PGFp PGA, and PGB type oxa-phenylene compounds encompassed by formulas XVI to XXXV including the special classes of compounds described above, are used for the purposes described above in the free acid form, in ester form, or in pharmacologically acceptable salt form. When the ester form is used, the ester is any of those within the above definition of R However, it is preferred that the ester be alkyl of one to 12 carbon atoms, inclusive. Of those alkyl, methyl and ethyl are especially preferred for optimum absorption of the compound by the body or experimental animal system; and straight-chain octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, and dodecyl are especially preferred for prolonged activity in the body or experimental animal.

Pharmacologically acceptable salts of these formula XVI-to-XXXV compounds useful for the purposes described above are those with pharmacologically acceptable metal cations, ammonium, amine cations, or quaternary ammonium cations. I

Especially preferred metal cations are those derived from the alkali metals, e.g., lithium, sodium and potassium, and from the alkaline earth metals, e.g., magnesium and calcium, although cationic forms of other metals, e.g., aluminum, zinc, and iron, are within the scope of this invention.

Pharmacologically acceptable amine cations are those derived from primary, secondary, or tertiary amines. Examples of suitable amines are methylamine, dimethylamine, trimethylamine, ethylamine, dibutylamine, triisopropylamine, N-methylhexylamine, decylamine, dodecylamine, allylamine, crotylamine, cyclopentylamine, dicyclohexylamine, benzylamine, dibenzylamine, a-phenylethylamine, B-phenylethylamine, ethylenediamine, diethylenetriamine, and like aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, and araliphatic amines containing up to and including about 18 carbon atoms, as well as heterocyclic amines, e.g., piperidine, morpholine, pyrrolidine, piperazine, and lower-alkyl derivatives thereof, e.g., l-methylpiperidine, 4-ethylmorpholine, l-isopropylpyrrolidine, 2-methylpyrrolidine, 1,4- dimethylpiperazine, Z-methylpiperidine, and the like, as well as amines containing water-solubilizing or hydrophilic groups, e.g., mono-, di-, and triethanolamine, ethyldiethanolamine, N-butylethanolamine, 2-aminol-butanol, 2-amino-2-ethyl-l,3-propanediol, Z-amino- Z-methyll -propanol, tris-(hydroxymethyl )aminomethane, N-phenylethanolamine, N-(p-tert-amylphenyl)- diethanolamine, galactamine, N-methylglucamine, N- methylglucosamine, ephedrine, phenylephrine, epinephrine, procaine, and the like.

Examples of suitable pharmacologically acceptable quaternary ammonium cations are tetramethylammonium, tetraethylammonium, benzyltrimethylammonium, phenyltriethylammonium, and the like.

The PGE, PGFa PGFp PGA, and PGB type oxa-phenylene compounds encompassed by formulas XVI to XXXV including the special classes of compounds described above, are also used for the purposes described above in free hydroxy form or in the form wherein the hydroxy moieties are transformed to lower alkanoate moieties, e.g., OH to OCOCH Examples of lower alkanoate moieties are acetoxy, propionyloxy, butyryloxy, valeryloxy, hexanoyloxy, heptanoyloxy, octanoyloxy, and branched chain al- 21 kanoyloxy isomers of those moieties. Especially preferred among these alkanoates for the above described purposes are the acetoxy compounds. These free hydroxy and alkanoyloxy compounds are used as free acids, as esters, and in salt form all as described above.

As discussed above, the compounds of formulas XVI to XXXV are administered in various ways for various purposes; e.g., intravenously, intramuscularly, subcutaneously, orally, intravaginally, rectally, buccally, sublingually, topically, and in the form of sterile implants for prolonged action. For intravenous injection or infusion, sterile aqueous isotonic solutions are preferred. For that purpose, it is preferred because of increased water solubility that R in the formula XVI-to-XXXV compound be hydrogen or a pharmacologically acceptable cation. For subcutaneous or intramuscular injection, sterile solutions or suspensions of the acid, salt, or ester form in aqueous or non-aqueous media are used. Tablets, capsules, and liquid preparations such as syrups, elixirs, and simple solutions, with the usual pharmaceutical carriers are used for oral sublingual administration. For rectal or vaginal administration, suppositories prepared as known in the art are used. For tissue implants, a sterile tablet or silicone rubber capsule or other object containing or impregnated with the substance is used.

The PGE, PGFa PGFp PGA and PGB type oxaphenylene compounds encompassed by formulas XVI to XXXV are produced by the reactions and procedures described and exemplified hereinafter.

The various PGF -type and PGFp -type oxa-phenylene compounds encompassed by-formulas XX-XX- III and XXXIII are prepared by carbonyl reduction of the corresponding PGE type compounds encompassed by formulas XVI-XIX and XXXII. For Example, carbonyl reduction of 3-oxa3,7-inter-m-phenylene-4,5,6- trinor-PGE gives a mixture of 3-oxa-3,7-inter-m-phenylene-4,5,6-trinor-PGF and 3-oxa-3,7-inter-mphenylene-4,5,6-trinor-PGF These ring carbonyl reductions are carried out by methods known in the art for ring carbonyl reductions of known prostanoic acid derivatives. See, for example, Bergstrom et al., Arkiv Kemi I9, 563 (196-3), Acta Chem. Scand. 16, 969 (1962), and British Specification No. 1,097,533. Any reducing agent is used which does not react with carbon-carbon double bonds or ester groups. Preferred reagents are lithium(tri-tertbutoxy)aluminurn hydride, the metal borohydrides, especially sodium, potassium and zinc borohydrides, and metal trialkoxy borohydrides, e.g., sodium trimethoxyborohydride. The mixtures of alpha and beta hydroxy reduction products are separated into the individual alpha and beta isomers by methods known in the art for the separation of analogous pairs of known isomeric prostanoic acid derivatives. See, for example, Bergstrom et al., cited above, Granstrom et al., J. Biol.

22 tion of 3-oxa-3,7-inter-m-phenylene-4,5,6-trinor-PGE gives 3-oxa-3,7-inter-m-phenylene-4,5,6-trinor-PGA These acidic dehydrations are carried out by methods known in the art for acidic dehydrations of known prostanioc acid derivatives. See, for example, Pike et al., Proc. Nobel Symposium II, Stockholm (1966), Interscience Publishers, New York, pp. 162-163 (1967); and British Specification No. 1,097,533. Alkanoic acids of 2 to 6 carbon atoms, inclusive, especially acetic acid, are preferred acids for this acidic dehydration. Dilute aqueous solutions of mineral acids, e.g., hydrochloric acid, especially in the presence of a solubiliz ing diluent, e.g., tetrahydrofuran, are also useful as reagents for this acidic dehydration, although these reagents may cause partial hydrolysis of an ester reactant.

The various PGB-type oxa-phenylene compounds encompassed by formulas XXVIII-XXXI and XXXV are prepared by basic dehydration of the corresponding PGE type compounds encompassed by formulas XVI- -XIX and XXXII, or by contacting the corresponding PGA type compounds encompassed by formulas XXIV-XXVII and XXXIV with base. For example, both 3-oxa-3,7-inter-m-phenylene-4,5,6-trinor-PGE, and 3-oxa-3,7-inter-m-phenylene-4,5,-trinor-PGA give 3-0xa-3,7-inter-m phenylene-4,5,6-trinor-PGB on treatment with base.

These basic dehydrations and double bond migrations are carried out by methods known in the art for Chem. 240, 457 (1965), and Green et al., J. Lipid similar reactions of known prostanoic acid derivatives. See, for example, Bergstrom et al., J. Biol. Chem. 238, 3555 (1963). The base is any whose aqueous solution has pI-I greater than 10. Preferred bases are the alkali metal hydroxides. A mixture of water and sufficient of a water-miscible alkanol to give a homogeneous reaction mixture is suitable as a reaction medium. The PGE-type or PGA-type compound is maintained in such a reaction medium until no further PGB-type compound is formed, as shown by the characteristic ultraviolet light absorption near 278 mp. for the PGB type compound.

The various transformations of PGE-type oxa-phenylene compounds of formulas XVI-XIX to the corresponding PGF PGF p PGA and PGB type oxaphenylene compounds are shown in Chart A, wherein G, Q, R and are as defined above, wherein E is CH CI-IR or trans-CI-I=CR wherein R and R are hydrogen or alkyl of one to 4 carbon atoms, inclusive, and'wherein J is wherein V is C H cis or trans or C I C-C,-I-I wherein C l-l c l l C H R and R are as defined above, and wherein C H represents alkylene of one to 6 carbon atoms, inclusive, with one, 2, or 3 carbon atoms between O and COOR The various l3,l4-dihydro-PGE -PGF,, -PGA and -PGB type oxa-phenylene compounds encompassed by formulas XIX, XXIII, XXVlI, and XXXI are pre- 23 pared by carbon-carbon double bond reduction of the corresponding PGE, PGF, PGA, and PGB type compound containing a trans double bond in the hydroxycontaining side chain. A cis or trans doublebond or a triple bond can also be present in the carboxy-ter minated side chain of the unsaturated reactant, and will be reduced at the same time to CH CI- I For example, 13 ,14-dihydro-3-oxa-3,7-inter-m-phenylene- 4,5,6-trinor-PGE is produced by reduction of 3-oxa- 3,7-inter-m-phenylene-4,5,6-trinor-PGE 3-oxa-3,7-

inter-m-phenylene-4,5,6-trinor-PGE or 5,6-dehydrosalt, in the presence of an inert diluent, preferably a lower alkanol such as methanol or ethanol, and preferably in the absence of substantial amounts of water. At least one molecular equivalent of the azodiformic acid salt is used for each multiple bond equivalent of the unsaturated reactant. The resulting suspension is then stirred, preferably with exclusion of oxygen, and the mixture is made acid, advantageously with a carboxylic acid such as acetic acid. When a reactant wherein R is hydrogen is used, the carboxylic acid reactant also serves to acidify an equivalent amount of the azodiformic acid salt. A reaction temperature in the range of about to about 40 C. is usually suitable. Within that temperature range, the reaction is usually complete within less than 24 hours. The desired dihydro product is then isolated by conventional methods, for example, evaporation of the diluent, followed by separation from inorganic materials by solvent extraction.

CHART A ca rbOnyl reduction acid | CH-J-COOR 1 24 C0ntinued base base CH-J -COOR E '-C -G In the case of the oxa-phenylene unsaturated PGE, PGF and PGFB type reactants, the reductions to the corresponding dihydro-PGB dihydro-PGF and dihydro-PGF B type oxa-phenylene compounds are also carried out by catalytic hydrogenation. For that purpose, palladium catalysts, especially on a carbon carrier, are preferred. It is also preferred that the hydrogenation be carried out in the presence of an inert liquid diluent, for example, methanol, ethanol, dioxane, ethyl acetate, andthe like. Hydrogenation pressures ranging from about atmospheric to about 50 p.s.i., and hydrogenation temperatures ranging from about 10 to about C. are preferred. The resulting dihydro product is isolated from the hydrogenation reaction mixture by conventional methods, for example, removal of the catalyst by filtration or centrifugation, followed by evaporation of the solvent.

Diimide reductions and catalytic hydrogenations to produce the various novel formula XIX, XXIII, XXVII, and XXXI 13,14-dihydro compounds of this invention from the corresponding PGE, PGF, PGA, and PGB type oxa-phenylene compounds of the P6,, P0 trans- 5,6-dehydro-PG and 5,6-dehydro-PG series are shown in Chart B. G, J, Q, R R R and are as defined above, and L is c H -0-c H p p q wherein C H C H and C H are as defined above.

The oxa-phenylene compounds of the PGE PGF PGA and PGB type wherein the carbon-carbon double bond in the carboxy-terminated side chain is in cis configuration are prepared by reduction of the corresponding acetylenic oxa-phenylene compounds, i.e., those with a carbon-carbon triple bond in place of said carbon-carbon double bond. For that purpose, there are used any of the known reducing agents which reduce an acetylenic linkage to a cis-ethylenic linkage. Especially preferred for that purpose are diimide, or

hydrogen and a catalyst, for example, palladium on barium sulfate, especially in the presence of pyridine. See Fieser et al., Reagents for Organic Synthesis," pp. 566-567, John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, N.Y. (1967). These reductions are shown in Chart C, wherein G, Q, R R R and are as defined above, and M is wherein C,-I-I C H and C I-I are defined above. These oxa-phenylene cis compounds of the PGE PGF a PGF B PGA and PGB type are also prepared as described hereinafter.

The oxa-phenylene PGE-type compounds of formulas XVI-XIX except wherein R is hydrogen, and the oxa-phenylene PGA-type compounds of formulas XXIV-XXVII except wherein R is hydrogen are prepared by the series of reactions shown in Chart D, wherein G, J, R R and R are as defined above; G is the same as G except that T is replaced by T, wherein T is the same as T above except that R is not hydrogen; R is the same as the above definition of R except that R does not include hydrogen; R, and R are alkyl of one to 4 carbon atoms, inclusive; R is alkyl of one to 5 carbon atoms, inclusive; and indicates attachment of CHR -JCOOR to the cyclopentane ring in alpha or beta configuration, and attachment of the moiety to the cyclopropane ring in exo and endo configuration.

The oxa-phenylene PGE -type compounds of formula XVI, the oxa-phenylene 5,6-dehydro-PGE type compounds of formula XVIII, the oxa-phenylene PGA type compounds of formula XXIV and the oxaphenylene 5,6-dehydro-PGA type compounds of formula XXVI are also prepared by the series of reactions shown in Chart E, wherein G, G, R R R R and R are as defined above; Z is L or -C I! CM- wherein L and M are as defined above; and indicates attachment of CHR Z'COOR to the cyclopentane ring in alpha or beta configuration, and attachment of the moiety to the cyclopropane ring in exo or endo configuration.

It should be observed regarding the series of reactions shown in Charts D and E, that the reactions starting with glycol XXXVIII in Chart D are similar to the reactions starting with glycol XLV in Chart E. The only differences here are the definitions of the divalent moieties J (Chart D) and Z (Chart E). J includes saturated, cis and trans ethylenic, and acetylenic divalent moieties. Z is limited to the saturated and acetylenic divalent moieties encompassed by J. In other words, final oxa-phenylene PGE-type compounds of formula XL (Chart D) encompass compounds of formulas XVI to XVIII. Final oxa-phenylene PGA-type compounds of formula XLI (Chart D) encompass compounds of formulas XXIV to XXVI. On the other hand, final oxaphenylene PGE-type compounds of formula XLVII (Chart E) encompass only compounds of formulas XVI and XVIII, and final oxa-phenylene PGA-type com pounds of formula XLVIII (Chart E) encompass only compounds of formula XXIV and XXVI.

As will subsequently appear, an acetylenic intermediate of formulas XXXVII, XXXVIII, or XLV is transformed by step-wise reduction to the corresponding cis or trans ethylenic intermediates of formulas XXXVII or XXXVIII; and an acetylenic intermediate of formulas XXXVII, XXXVIII, or XLV or a cis or trans ethyl enic intermediate of formulas XXXVII or XXXVIII is transformed by reduction to the corresponding saturated intermediate of formulas XXVII, XXXVIII, or XLV.

The initial bicycloketone reactant of formula XLIII in Chart E is also used as an initial reactant to produce the initial bicyclo-ketone cyclic ketal reactant of formula XXXVI in Chart D. The following reactions will produce cyclic ketal XXXVI, wherein TI-IP is tetrahydropyranyl, and d) is phenyl:

OTHP

7 R2 via several S teps P=C V \G 0 O QJ R9=CR G 9 ilRaG XLI I I LI CR9'(l:R2G t, R 1 12 XXXVI 9 a bicyclo [3.I.0]hexane substituted at 3 with a pro- The bicycloketone reactant of formula XLIII exists in four isomeric forms, exo and endo with respect to the attachment of the CR =CR G moiety, and cis and trans with respect to the double bond in that same moiety. Each of those isomers separately or various mixtures thereof are used as reactants according to this invention to produce substantially the same final oxaphenylene PGE or PGA type product mixture.

The process for preparing either the exo or endo configuration of the formula-XLIII bicyclo-ketone is known to the art. See U.S. Pat. No. 3,776,940 and Belgian Pat. No. 702,477, Derwent Farmdoc No. 30,905. See West Germany Offenlegungsschrift No. 1,937,912; reprinted in Farmdoc Complete Specifications, Book No 14, No. 6869 R, Week R Mar. I8, 1970.

In said U.S. Pat. No. 3,776,940 a reaction sequence capable of forming exo ketone XLIII is as follows: The hydroxy of 3-cyclopentenol is protected, for example, with a tetrahydropyranyl group. Then a diazoacetic acid ester is added to the double bond to give an exoendo mixture of a bicyclo[3.l.0]hexane substituted at 3 with the protected hydroxy and at 6 with a esterified carboxyl. The exo-endo mixture is treated with a base to isomerize the endo isomer in the mixture to more of the exo isomer. Next, the carboxylate ester group at 6 is transformed to an aldehyde group or ketone group,

wherein R is as defined above. Then, said aldehyde group or keto group is transformed by the Wittig reaction, in this case to a moiety of the formula CR =CR G which is in exo configuration relative to the bicyclo ring structure. Next, the protective group is removed to regenerate the 3-hydroxy which is then oxidized, for example, by the Jones reagent, i.e., chromic acid (see J. Chem. Soc. 39 (1946)), to give said exo ketone XLIII.

Separation of the cis-exo and trans-exo isomers of XLIII is described in U.S. Pat. NO. 3,776,940. However, as mentioned above, that separation is usually not necessary since the cis-trans mixture is useful as a reactant in the next process step.

The process described in said U.S. Pat. No. 3,776,940 for producing the exo form of bicycloketone XLIII uses, as an intermediate, the exo form of tected hydroxy, e.g., tetrahydropyranyloxy, and at 6 with an esterified carboxyl. When the corresponding endo compound is substituted for that exo intermediate, the process in said Offenlegungsschrift No. 1,937,912 leads to the endo form of bicyclo-ketone XLIII. That endo compound to be used has the formula LII COOCH Compound LII is prepared by reacting endo-bicyclo[3.l.0]-hex-2-ene-6-carboxylic acid methyl ester with diborane in a mixture of tetrahydrofuran and diethyl ether, a reaction generally known in the art, to give endo-bicyclo[3. l .0]-hexane-3-ol-6-carboxy1ic acid methyl ester which is then reacted with dihydropyran in the presence of a catalytic amount of POCl to give the desired compound. This is then used as described in said Offenlegungsschrift No. 1,937,912 to produce the endo form of bicyclo-ketone XLIII.

As for exo XLIII, the above process produces a mixture of endo-cis and endo-trans compounds. These are separated as described for the separation of exo-cis and exo-trans XLIII, but this separation is usually not necessary since, as mentioned above, the cis-trans mixture is useful as a reactant in the next process step.

In the processes of said U.S. patent and said Offenlegungsschrift, certain organic halides, e.g., chlorides and bromides, are necessary to prepare the Wittig reagents used to generate the generic moiety -CR =CR G of bicyclo-ketone XLIII. These organic chlorides and bromides are known in the art or can be prepared by methods known in the art.

To illustrate the availability of these organic chlorides consider first the above-described oxa-phenylene PGE-type compounds of formulas XVI to XIX wherein R is hydrogen and G is either (1) alkyl of one to carbon atoms, inclusive, substituted with zero, one, 2, or 3 fluoro, or

wherein C,l-I represents a valence bond or alkylene of one to 10 carbon atoms, inclusive, substituted with zero, one, or 2 fluoro, with one to 7 carbon atoms, inclusive, between CF (CH BrCl-i CH F(Cl-l Cl, C H CF (CH Cl, CF -,(Cl-I Cl, CH (Cl-I CF (CH CH CL and CH (Cl-I CF (CH CI-I Cl, as described in Aliphatic Fluorine Compounds", A. M. Lovelace et al., Am. Chem. Soc. Monograph Series, 1958, Reinhold Publ. Corp. Those halidesnot available are prepared by methods known in the art by reacting the corresponding primery alcohol GCH OH with PCl PBr or any of the other halogenating agents useful for this purpose. Available alcohols include CH CH(CF )CH OH, (CH CHCH CH OH, (CH CCH OH, CF CH(CH )CH CH OH, for example. For those halides of the formula GCl-I Hal wherein Hal is chloro or bromo, G is R -(CH h being one, 2, 3, or 4, and R being isobutyl, tert-butyl, 3,3-difluorobutyl, 4,4-difluorobutyl, or 4,4,4-trifluorobutyl, the intermediate alcohols are prepared as follows.

- In the case of R being isobutyl or tert-butyl, known alcohols are converted to bromides, thence to nitriles with sodium cyanide, thence to the corresponding carboxylic acids by hydrolysis, and thence to the corresponding primary alcohols by reduction, e.g. with lithium aluminum hydride, thus extending the carbon chain one carbon atom at a time until all primary alcohols are prepared.

In the case of R being 3,3-difluorobutyl, the necessary alcohols are prepared from keto carboxylic acids of the formula, CH CO(CH ),COOH, wherein r is 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6. All of those acids are known. The methyl esters are prepared and reacted with sulfur tetrafluoride to produce the corresponding CH -CF- --(CH COOCI-I compounds, which are then reduced with lithium aluminum hydride to CH 'CF- (CH ),--CH OH. These alcohols are then transformed to the bromide or chloride by reaction with PBm 0r In the case of R being 4,4-diflu0robutyl, the initial reactants are the known dicarboxylic acids, HOO- C(Cl-I ),COOI-I, wherein f is 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7. These dicarboxylic acids are esterified to CH OOC-(CI-I );-COOCH and then half-saponified, for example with barium hydroxide, to give HOOC.(CI-I ),-COOCI-I The free carboxyl group is transformed first to the acid chloride with thionyl chloride and then to an aldehyde by the Rosenmund reduction. Reaction of the aldehyde with sulfur tetrafluoride then gives CI-IF (Cl-I ),COOCH which by successive treatment with lithium aluminum hydride and PBr or PCl gives the necessary bromides or chlorides,

In the case of R being 4,4,4-trifluorobutyl, aldehydes of the formula CH OOC-(CH ),-CI-IO are prepared as described above. Reduction of the aldehyde with sodium borohydride gives the alcohol CH OOC(CH ),CH OH. Reaction with PBr or PCl then gives CH OOC(CH ),-CH --I-Ial. Saponification of that ester gives the carboxylic acid which by reaction with sulfur tetrafluoride gives the necessary CF -(Cl-I ),-Cl-I -Br or CF,;(CH ),-CH CI.

For the above reactions of SF see U.S. Pat. No. 3,211,723 and J. Org. Chem. 27, 3164 (1962).

For those products wherein R is hydrogen and G is the halides necessary to prepare those compounds, if not readily available, are advantageously prepared by reacting the corresponding primary alcohol,

(U HocH c H2 i.e. c1-cH namely a-chlorotoluene or benzyl chloride; compound No. 8 of Table I is represented by the formula wherein s is zero, t is 2, and Hal is bromo, i.e.

namely l-bromo-3-phenylpr0pane or 3-br0mopropylbenzene; and compound No. 63 of Table I represented by the formula wherein s is 3, T is methyl in the 2-, 4- and 5-positions with respect to the CH substitution, t is 2, and Hal is bromo, i.e

-CHa

namely l-( 3-bromopropyl)-2,4,5-trimethylbenzene.

TABLE I Intermediate Halides represented by the formula No. s T t Hal 1 0 Cl 2 0 0 Br 3 O 0 l 4 0 1 Cl O 1 Br 6 O l I 7 0 2 Cl 8 0 2 Br 9 O 2 I l0 0 3 Cl ll 0 3* Cl 12 0 3 Br 13 O 4 Cl 14 l 2CH 0 Cl 15 l 2-C H 0 Cl 16 l 4-C H 0 Cl 17 l 2-CF 0 Cl 18 l 4-OCH 0 Cl 19 l 3-CH 0 Br 20 l 4-CH 0 Br 21 l 4 C H 0 Br 22 l 4-CI 0 Br 23 l Z-CF 0 Br 24 l 3-CF 0 Br 25 l 4-CH 0 l 26 l 4-F 1 Cl 27 l 3-Cl 1 Br 28 l 4-Cl 1 Br 29 l 4-F 1 Br 30 l 2-Cl 2 Br 31 l 3-Cl 2 Br 32 l 4-Cl 2 Br 33 l 4-F 3* Br 34 l 2-CI 4 Br 35 l 2-CH 0 CI 4-CH 36 2 Z-CH 0 Cl S-CI'I, 37 2 Z-CH, 0 Cl 6-CH 38 2 3-CH 0 Cl TABLE I-continued Intermediate Halides represented by the formula No. s T t Hal 4-cr1, 39 2 2c 3 0 c1 40 4o 2 20-1 0 Br ecu, 42 2 3-cH 0 Br S-t-butyl 43 2 301-1 0 Br 3-Br 45 2 3-001 0 c1 4-oc11, 46 2 3-ocr1 0 c1 5 ocr1 47 2 30cm 0 Br s-ocri 4s 2 2e11, 1 c1 4-cr1, so 2' 3-c11 1 Br 4 ocr1 s2 2 3 ocr1, 1 Br soon, 53 2 300B, 1 1

4001 54 2 3 ocr1, 2 Br socn, 51 3 201 0 c1 4e11, 501, 58 3 2e11,, 0 c1 4 cr1 ecu, 59 3 401 0 c1 2-ocr1 50cm 60 3 2011 0 Br 3-c11 6-CH 61 3 2-CH3 0 Br 4CH3 60-1 62 3 2-011, 0 Br 3-oc11 6-OCH3 63 3 20 1 2 Br *-branched EH Next, considering the intermediate halides for producing oxa-phenylene PGE-type compounds of formulas XIII to XVI wherein R is alkyl of one to 4 carbon atoms, inclusive (A), and G is either of the two types (1 or (2) above, these organic chlorides and bromides,

G-iH-Hal are known to the art or can be prepared by methods known in the art.

For type A-(l) above, i.e. wherein R is alkyl and G is alkyl of one to 10 carbon atoms and 0-3 fluoro atoms, there are available such monohalofluorohydrowherein R is as defined above, with PC1 PBr or any of the other halogenating agents known in the art to be useful for this purpose. Such alcohols include, for example, CH FCH(OH)CH F, CF (CH CH(OH)CH CF CH(OH)(CH )CH CF CH(OH)(CH CH CF CH(Ol-I)C(CH and CF CH(OH)(CH CH For those halides of the formula GCHR Hal, wherein G is R -,(CH using the definitions of Hal, h, R and R above, the intermediate alcohols are prepared as follows.

In the case of R being isobutyl or tert-butyl, lower molecular weight primary alcohols are transformed to the corresponding longer-chain carboxylic acids and thence to the corresponding secondary alcohols by preparing the intermediate ketones,

by known procedures, for example GCOCl (R Cd, thereafter reducing the ketone to the secondary alcohol with sodium borohydride.

' In the case of R being 3,3-difluorobutyl, the procedure described above is applicable to converting CH -CF (CH COOCH described above to These alcohols are then transformed to the bromide or chloride by reaction with PBr or PCl In the case of R being 4,4-difluorobutyl, the corresponding secondary alcohols are prepared as described some of the readily available halides are shown in Table II. Thus, compound No. l of Table II is represented by the formula wherein s=0, R =methyl, t=0, and Hal=Cl,

CH3 c l-dIH-G namely l-chloroethyl)benzene; and compound N0. 13 of Table II is represented by the formula wherein s=2,

5 T=methyl, R =methyl, t=l, and Hal=Br, i.e.

namely 4-(2-bromopropyl)-o-xylene or l-(2-bromophenyl)3methyl-4-methylbenzene.

TABLE [I Intermediate Halides represented by the Formula HQI- H-c H -,..--(r) No. 5 T R t Hal 1 0 CH 0 Cl 2 0 C H 0 Cl 3 O C H 0 Br 4 0 CH 0 l 5 0 CH 1 Cl 6 0 n-C,-,H, 1 Cl 7 0 C 3 1 Br 8 O C H 2 Cl 9 1 4 c 11,, CH 0 CI 10 l 4-F CH 0 Cl 1 l l 4-Cl C H 0 I Br 12 1 4-F c n, 0 Br 13 2 3-CH CH 1 Br 4-CH l4 2 3-OCH CH l Br 4-OCH l5 2 2-OCH CH 1 Br 6-OCH Other intermediate halides of the general formula may be obtained from the secondary alcohols as discussed above. The secondary alcohols, wherein R is alkyl, are prepared by transforming the COOH of the corresponding carboxylic acid,

R nal--(c Ha (U HOOC- (c H2 to a ketone by known procedures, eg by way of acyl chloride and a dialkylcadmium. Reduction of the ketone with sodium borohydride then yields the secondary alcohol,

HO- (CtH2t) the like, are reacted with PCI PBr or HBr to form the halide. Alternatively, the carboxylic acid having one less carbon atom in the chain than the desired intermediate halide, i.e.

' (r) Hot-(mg wherein g [-1, is converted by a series of known methods to the 2,2-difluorohalide. Thus, the free carboxyl group is transformed first to the acid chloride with thionyl chloride and thence by way of the nitrile to the a-keto-acid. The carboxyl group is reduced to the alcohol with diborane and then converted to the a-keto halide. Finally, by reaction of the keto group with sulfur tetrafluoride, there is obtained As mentioned above, formula XVI-to-XXXI compounds with an alpha-fluoro substituent in a straight chain 3-to7-carbon G, i.e., G being CHF(CH- )aCH wherein a is one, 2, 3, 4, or 5, represent preferred embodiments among the novel oxa-phenylene compounds of this invention. Among those, for example, is 3-oxa-l6-fluoro-3-7-inter-m-phenylene- 4,5,6-trinor-PGE The formula-XLIII bicyclo-ketones necessary to produce those mono-fluoro compounds are advantageously prepared by reacting either of the above-mentioned bicyclo'aldehydes, exo or endo, with a Wittig reagent prepared from CH (CH- )aCO-CH -Br and triphenylphosphine. The aldehyde group is thereby transformed to The resulting unsaturated ketone is reduced to the corresponding compound. The --OH in that group is replaced with fluoro by known methods, for example, directly by reaction with 2-chloro-l,l,Z-trifluorotriethylamine or indirectly, for example, by transforming the hydroxy to tosyloxy or mesyloxy, and reacting the resulting compound with anhydrous potassium fluoride in diethylene glycol. Similarly, the oxa-phenylene PG-type compounds wherein G is having an alpha-fluoro substituent on the carbon adjacent to the hydroxy-substituted carbon (C in PGE,) represent preferred embodiments of this invention. In preparing the formula-XLIII bicyclo-ketone intermediates, there is used a Wittig reagent prepared from and triphenylphosphine. Following the steps above, the resulting unsaturated ketone containing the moiety is reduced to the corresponding secondary alcohol. The OH in that group is replaced by fluoro by known methods.

Another preference mentioned above is that the 1- position of G in the formula XVI-to-XXXI compounds be monoordi-substituted with alkyl of one to 4 carbon atoms, particularly methyl or ethyl. In the steps of the synthesis shown in Charts D and E, G is then G' --CR R wherein R and R are methyl or ethyl and G is preferably alkyl of 2 to 6 carbon atoms or wherein k is zero, one, 2, or 3. Thus, in preparing the formula-XLIII intermediate olefin, a Wittig reagent is prepared from a halo compound of the general formula G"-CR R --CR HHal wherein Hal is chloro or bromo. These compounds are known in the art or can be prepared by methods known in the art, including those methods described above.

For example, when G is CH (CH R and R are hydrogen, and R is methyl, there is employed l-bromo(or -chloro)-2-methylhexane. If the halo compound is not available, the corresponding carboxylic acid is transformed to the alcohol and thence to the halide. Thus, 2,2-diethylvaleric acid yields l-bromo- 2,2-diethylpentane, wherein G' is CH (CH R is hydrogen, and R and R are ethyl.

Z-Ethylhexanoic acid yields 3-chloromethylheptane, wherein G is CH (CH R and R are hydrogen, and R is ethyl. 2-Ethyl-2-methylhexanoic acid yields 3'bromo-methyl-3-methylheptane, wherein G' is CH (Cl-l R is hydrogen, R is methyl, and R is ethyl. 2-Phenylpropionic acid yields l-bromo-2- phenylpropane, wherein G is phenyl, R and R are hydrogen, and R is methyl. Z-Methyl-Z-phenylbutyric acid yields l-bromo-2-methyl-2-phenylbutane, wherein G' is phenyl, R is hydrogen, R is methyl, and R is ethyl. 2-Methyl-4-(2,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)butyric acid yields l-chloro-2-methyl-4-(2,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)butane, wherein G' is (2,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)ethyl, R and R are hydrogen, and R is methyl.

Mono-alkyl substituted alkanoic acids useful for preparing the above halo intermediates are prepared by alkylation of an a-keto acid, 6" -CO-COOl-l, e.g.

(prepared via the acid chloride and thence the nitrile) by means of a Grignard reagent, R Mgl-lal for example.

The transformation of bicyclo-ketone-olefin XLlll to glycol Ll is carried out by reacting olefin XLIII with a 

1. AN OPTICALLY ACTIVE COMPOUND OF THE FORMULA:
 2. A compound according to claim 1 wherein G is alkyl of 2 to 10 carbon atoms, inclusive, substituted with zero, one, 2, or 3 fluoro.
 3. A compound according to claim 2 wherein * indicates attachment of the side chain to the cyclopentane ring in alpha configuration.
 4. A compound according to claim 3 wherein
 5. A compound according to claim 4 wherein R1 is hydrogen or alkyl of one to 12 carbon atoms.
 6. A compound according to claim 4 wherein R1 is hydrogen, methyl, or ethyl.
 7. A compound according to claim 5 wherein R2 is hydrogen.
 8. A compound according to claim 5 wherein R2 is methyl or ethyl.
 9. A compound according to claim 5 wherein CjH2j is a valence bond.
 10. A compound according to claim 9 wherein CpH2p is methylene.
 11. A compound according to claim 9 wherein CpH2p is a valence bond.
 12. A compound according to claim 11 wherein G is
 13. A compound according to claim 12 wherein a is 2, 3, or 4, and wherein R21 and R22 are hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, or fluoro, being the same or different.
 14. 3-Oxa-3,5-inter-m-phenylene-4-nor-PGF2 , a compound according to claim
 11. 15. 3-Oxa-3,5-inter-m-phenylene-4-nor-PGF2 , methyl ester, a compound according to claim
 11. 16. 15(S)-15-Methyl-3-oxa-3,5-inter-m-phenylene-4-nor-PGF2 , a compound according to claim
 11. 17. 16,16-Dimethyl-3-oxa-3,5-inter-m-phenylene-4-nor-PGF2 , a compound according to claim
 11. 18. A compound according to claim 1 wherein G is monovalent moiety of the formula
 19. A compound according to claim 18 wherein * indicates attachment of the side chain to the cyclopentane ring in alpha configuration.
 20. A compound according to claim 19 wherein
 21. A compound according to claim 20 wherein R1 is hydrogen or alkyl of one to 12 carbon atoms.
 22. A compound according to claim 20 wherein R1 is hydrogen, methyl, or ethyl.
 23. A compound according to claim 21 wherein R2 is hydrogen.
 24. A compound according to claim 21 wherein R2 is methyl or ethyl.
 25. A compound according to claim 21 wherein CjH2j is a valence bond.
 26. A compound according to claim 25 wherein CpH2p is methylene.
 27. A compound according to claim 25 wherein CpH2p is a valence bond.
 28. A compound according to claim 27 wherein G is
 29. A compound according to claim 28 wherein R and R are hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, or fluoro, being the same or different.
 30. 3-Oxa-3,7-inter-m-phenylene-17-phenyl-4,5,6,18,19,20-hexanor-PGF2 , a compound according to claim
 27. 31. 15(S)-15-Methyl-3-oxa-3,7-inter-m-phenylene-17-phenyl-4,5,6, 18,19,20-hexanor-PGF2 , a compound according to claim
 27. 